The Expedition of the Donner Party and its Tragic Fate

In the summer of 1846, full of hope and the promise of new beginnings, eighty-seven emigrants set out for the rich valleys of California. Among them was young Eliza Poor Donner, whose cherished family was bound by love, ambition, and naiveté. When they chose the Hastings Cutoff—promoted as a shortcut but fraught with danger—they paid for that decision with delay, lost animals, and broken wagons. As winter descends, the Donner Party becomes trapped in the Sierra Nevada mountains, snow piling high, supplies dwindling, and desperation growing in every cabin. With unflinching honesty and intimate detail, Eliza Houghton reconstructs the journey through the desert, the bitter cold, the hungry nights, and the agonizing choices made in the face of near-hopelessness. She weaves together memories, family letters, and first-hand reports—especially to address rumors and sensational tales that have haunted the Donner name. Though some died, others survived, and Eliza’s voice preserves both tragedy and courage. This is not merely a recounting of disaster; it is a daughter’s testament, a plea for understanding, and a sobering portrait of human strength and frailty when nature and fate converge.
ASIN: 144440797X
VSKU: BVV.144440797X.A
Condition: Acceptable
Author/Artist:Houghton, Eliza Poor
Binding: Paperback
Note: Any images shown are stock photographs and product may differ from what is shown.
Condition Notes: The item is very worn but is perfectly usable. Signs of wear can include aesthetic issues such as scratches, dents, worn and creased covers, folded page corners and minor liquid stains. All pages and the cover are intact, but the dust cover may be missing. Pages may include moderate to heavy amount of notes and highlighting, but the text is not obscured or unreadable. Page edges may have foxing age related spots and browning . May NOT include discs, access code or other supplemental materials.